Signal apparatus



Nov. 14, 1944.

SIGN!.L PPARATUS GEHRING 2,362,897

Fie April 2, 1942 E- i Patented Nov. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 2, 1

2 Claims.

This invention relates to signal apparatus and is directed particularly to apparatus of the character which remains inoperative when the assembly in which it is embodied is maintained in a predetermined plane and which actuates an alarm upon movement of the assembly into a different plane. p

It is an important object of my invention to provide novel apparatus of the above character which may be preadjusted to render the alarm apparatus inoperative when the assembly in which it is in incorporated is stationed on a plane disposed angularly to the horizontal.

More particularly, my invention is adapted to incorporation in automotive vehicles Whereby it may be adjusted to an inoperative condition in accordance With the 1eve1 upon which the vehicle stands and may then be rendered operative by unauthorized tilting of the vehicle as by stepping on the running board or jacking up the wheel by unauthorized persons intending to steal tires.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel circuit in conjunction with the signal apparatus whereby the alarm set oiT by unauthorized movement of the vehicle is audible yet whereby the system,may be tested by the operator before he leaves the vehicle through a light circuit thus o'bviating the necessity of sounding the alarm during the testing operation. r

A still further object of my invention is to provide a signal apparatus with'novel, cheaply manufactured and simply operated means for preadjusting for different predetermined positions of the vehicle relative to the horizontal.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of signal apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a' fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional View of apparatus embodying my invention; and,

4 Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of my signal 4 apparatus showing the circuit which may be associated therewith when incorporated in a vehicle.

It is to be understood that the embodiment the spirit and scope of the inven inthe appended claims.

942, Serial NO. 431346 Referring to the drawing, particularly to Figure 1, IO represents any suitable partition or casing of an assembly to which the signal apparatus is attached. If my invention is used in conjunction with an automotive vehicle, it may be Secured to the roof of the interior thereof, or to any other part which is rendered inaccessible by locked doors or the like when the owner is away from the can The main support for the alarm system may take many forms. However, it is shown herein as consisting of a plate member ll which may be secured to the member o by bolts or the like which pass through apertures !2. The member ll is provided with an aperture l3 in which there is disposed, with a substantially tight fit, a conducting sleeve !4. In order that the sleeve M 'may be retained securely within the aperture l3, it is provided with an dutwardly disposed flange or lip |5 at its upper edge theflange l5 being adapted to be set in a cooperating groove formed at the upper edge of the aperture.

The inner surface of the sleeve ll is constructed to provide a reduced cylindrical portion IS and a relatively larger cylindrical portion IT, these portions of the surface being joined by a curvate portion adapted to receive, for universal movement a ball mem-ber !8.

From the foregoing it will be seen that When the sleeve !4 is inserted in the aperture !3 of the plate Il and the ball IB is inserted in the sleeve |4 from the top thereof, the ball will be securely p mounted for universal movement within the sleeve but against movement downwardly relative thereto beyond the curvate portion between the sections [6 and l'l ofthe inner wall.

Universal movement of the ball [8 relative to the sleeve [4, plate ll and member !0 is brought about by a pendulum Construction which constitutes a shank [9 secured to the ball s, this 'shank having a suitable weight 20 mounted at the lower end thereof. From the foregoing it will be seen that during tilting movementof the partition Il), plate l l and sleeve !4 the pendulum Construction will, because of gravity tend to retain its vertical position throughout the tilting movement. It is this relative movement between the respective parts which is utilized to set ofi an alarm through the establishment of an electrical circuit as will be seen presently.

As a further part of the electrical alarm circuit there is provided herein an electrical contact member indicated generally at 2I. This contact member 2| may take various forms and configurations and still incorporate the convenient and simple features which adapt it well for adjustment in the manner to be presently described.

As shown herein, the contact member 2! is secured to the lower face of the plate Il by means of wing portions 22 each of which is provided 'with an aperture 23 adapted to receive the shank of a screw or bolt member 24, the latter having a shank diameter considerably less than the respective aperture 23 thus to afiord relative adjustabie movement in all directions, of the contact member 2l about said shank. The outer extremity of the bolts or screws 24 are enlarged in any suitable manner and in the present instance there is shown washers 25 having` a diameter greater than the respective aperture 23 whereby the contact member is retained inseparable relative to the plate ll. To the end that the wing portions 22 may be suitably spaced from the lower surface of the plate ll, there may be provided bushings 26' about the shanks of the screws.

As Will be seen from the drawing, the contact member 2l' may be iorm'ed from stamped sheet material being so tempered that distortion may be had for temporarily releasing portio'ns thereof from engagement with the plate H to aord adjust-ing movement as will be described presently.

The contact member 21 is provided with a substantially centrally disposed' aperture 21 which is of greater diameter than the shank !9 of the pendulum assembly and` is adapted to receive the shank !9 in such a manner that whenthe car or the like is parked at a predetermined angle relative' to the horizontal, the shank 19 extends through the aperture 21 in non-Contacting engagement therewith.

As will be seen most clearly from Figure 4, theconducting sleeve' M has a gr'ound lead 28 connected therewith. The contact member 2| has a lead 29 attached thereto, this lead ultimately connecting with a terminal of a' battery 30; As

shown at 31 thelea d 29 i divided' into' two parallel circuits, the first constituting a testing circuit and including a light 32 and' a switch 33 and the second including a hor'n 3 4 and a switch 35'. The other terminal of the batter'y 3U`is'p'rovided in the custonary manner with a ground lead 36'.

From the foregoing it will be seen that with the switches 33 and 35 closed and the member lil and' the plate H clisposed on the horizontal, the pendulum' shank 19 hangs vertically relative to the aforementioned parts and* passes through the aperture 2'! of the contact plate without touching the same, thus the above described circuit is completed except that a breakis provided between the shank !9 and the contact -plate because of the centered position of the aperture 21. When, however. the member together with the plate H is tilted as by an unauthorized person standing on the running board of a car to p which' the' alarm system is attached or an unauth'orized person jacking up the car preparatory to stealing the' tires, the member lo together with the plate !l and the contact member 21 will be tilt'ecl to bring the edge of the apert'ure 21 into contact With the shank I'9` thus completing the circuit to sound the horn 34' and light the light 32;

It will be readily understood* that should the car to which the alarm system' is attached be parked at an angle, an angular'relationship will exist between the parts ill', ll and 21' and' the shank [9 whereby the surface of 'the shank engages the edge of the aperture 21 so that the alarm will immediately be sounded upon the clos ing of switch 35 and the light will immediately be lit by the closing of the switch 33. Under such circumstances, the operator himself will sound the alarm and light the light merely by closing the switches and the utility of the device as a theft preventative Will be nullified.

To the end that the alarm system may be adjusted to' accommodate various initial angles of tilt of the vehicle, the contact member 2l is provided with an arcuate transverse cross section as shown most clearly in Figure 3. There is also provided a pair of laterally disposed manipulating tabs 31 which are bent to depend from the lower surface of the contact member 21, the junetion between the transverse arcuate portion of the contact member and the manipulating tabs 31 constituting folds or ribs 38 which abut the lower surface of the plate l I with spring engagement due to the arcuate formation above described. With the above Construction it will be seen that when the tabs 31 are grasped and sprung inwardly, the ribs 38 are urged outwardly and downwardly against the inherent spring action of the member 2! and thus are disengaged from the lower surface of the plate ll Whereupon the operator may move the contact member 2 I' in any direction through a plane parallel to the bottom surface of the plate member H limited only by the enlarged dimension of the apertures 23. If then, the vehicle is parked at an angle, the operator' may grasp the tabs 3 1 and urge them toward one another to' move the contact member 2I' as above described until the pendulum assembly assumes a freely depending vertical position with the aperture 21' clisposed concentrically thei-eto. This position having been attained, the operator may release his grasp on the tabs 31 whereupon the ribs 38 will again move upwardly and inwardly into spring engagement With the lower surface oi the plate H to be retained in the adjust-,ed position until again manipulated.

The above adjustment having been made, the operator may then test the system by leaving the switch 35 open and closing the switch 33. If the light 32 remains extinguished the operator is apprised of the fact that no improper contacts have been established in the circuit and if he then manipulates the pendulum and the light fiashes on and oti in accordance with his manipulation, he is further apprised that when he has locked the car and left, unauthorized tilting of the vehicle will sound the alarm. Thereafter, he may close the switch 35 prior to leaving the locked vehicle with full knowledg that unauthorized tilting of the vehicle will' cause the horn 34 to be actuated.

From the foregoing it will be seen'that there is provided herein an alarm system which is of extremely simple Construction; which is' adapted to accommodate various initial angles of tilt of the vehicle by means of extremely simplemanipulation of a device which may be cheaply manufactured and easily assembled and maintained; and which may be easily and readily tested without requiring the disturbing actuation of the audible portion of the alarm circuit during testing Operations.

What I claim is:

1. In a theft alarm system of the character using a universally mounted pendulum depending from a surface of an` assembly to which the system is attached, an apertured contact member mounted on said surface for releasable adjusting movement thereacross and in a position whereby the aperture receives a universaily de- `pending portion of the pendulum, said contact whereby the aperture receive's a universally depending portion of the penduium, said contact member having apertured wings adapted to receive attachment members, the apertures in said wings having an area greater than the cross sectional dimensions of the portions of the attachment members received thereby to afford movement of the contact member over said surface, said contact member having a portion of substantially arcuate cross section the edges thereof en-gaging said surface and having depending manipuiating tabs associated With the edges thereof for distorting said arcuate portion to temporarily WthdraW the edges thereof away from said surface thereby to afiord free adjusting movement of the contact member across said surface.

FRED W. GEHRING. 

